Awards

2024 Best of Northshore (BONS) Home, Editors Choice Builder/Custom Homes & Readers Choice Wine Cellars

In 2024, for the 9th year in a row, Howell Custom Building Group was recognized with an Editor’s Choice Award. This year it was for Builder of Custom Homes. We are also honored to receive the Readers Choice award for Wine Cellars. Dedicated to all things hearth and home, Northshore Home Magazine annually selects the best of all things home. Editors Choice winners are selected in consultation with design experts.

2023 Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston Home®, Custom Home Design/Build, North

Each year Boston magazine’s editorial team spends countless hours researching the very best of what Boston has to offer so they can share it with their readers. They spent months polling homeowners and industry experts to find the very best design professionals and resources this area has to offer. HCBG was recognized for their work building custom homes north of Boston.

2023 Best of Northshore (BONS) Home, Editors Choice Builder/Custom Homes

In 2023, for the 8th year in a row, Howell Custom Building Group was recognized with an Editor’s choice Award. This year it was for Builder of Custom Homes. Dedicated to all things hearth and home, Northshore Home Magazine annually selects the best of all things home. Editors Choice winners are selected in consultation with design experts.

2023 PRISM Gold Award for Best Historic Renovation over $1M

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won Gold for the Meredith Farm renovation in Topsfield, MA. The Farm is a 188-acre privately owned gentleman’s farm that has endured over 400 years of farming and cattle raising.

2023 PRISM Gold Award for Kitchen in home over 4,500 square feet

2023 PRISM Silver Awards

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won Silver Awards in 3 categories for our High Performance Modern Coastal Farmhouse project. The project won for 1) Best Energy Efficient/High Performance Home; 2) Best Single Family Home 6,000-8,000 square feet; 3) Best Design for Outdoor Living.

2022 Best of Northshore (BONS) Home, Editors Choice Builder/Renovation

In 2022, for the 7th year in a row, Howell Custom Building Group was recognized as the Editor’s choice for Builder of Renovations. Dedicated to all things hearth and home, Northshore Home Magazine annually selects the best of all things home. Editors Choice winners are selected in consultation with design experts.

2022 PRISM Gold Award for Best Bathroom Remodel $75,000-$125,000

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG, in collaboration with Amanda Greaves & Co Interior Design, won the 2022 Gold award for Best Bathroom Remodel $75,000-$125,000 for Boxford Primary Bath.

2022 PRO New England Gold Award Entire House $500k+

The Professional Remodeling Organization (PRO) New England annual awards are given in June. For the 2nd year in a row HCBG won Gold in the largest house remodeling category. A panel of ten independent reviewers judged the project entries in a blind evaluation. Projects were judged on a 70 point scale with points awarded for how well the project met the client’s needs and enhanced the functionality and aesthetics of the space, innovative uses of materials and methods, the ability to overcome obstacles creatively, and the craftsmanship displayed in the work. HCBG won Gold for a whole house exterior/interior reno of a Modern Farmhouse.

2021 Best of Northshore (BONS) Home, Editors Choice Builder/Renovation

Dedicated to all things hearth and home, Northshore Magazine annually selects the best of all things home. Editors Choice winners are selected in consultation with design experts. In 2021, for the 6th year in a row, Howell Custom Building Group was recognized as the Editor’s choice for Builder of Renovations.

2021 PRISM Gold Awards for Best Kitchen Remodel & Best Design for Outdoor Living

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won two 2021 Gold awards: Best Kitchen Remodel $150,000-$200,00 and Best Design for Outdoor Living for our New England Modern Farmhouse whole house renovation.

2021 PRISM Silver Awards for Best Remodel over 5,000 sq. feet & Most Creative Use of Space

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won two 2021 Silver awards: Best Remodel over 5,000 sq. ft for our New England Modern Farmhouse whole house renovation , and Most Creative Use of Space for it’s Indoor Basketball Court.

2021 PRO New England Gold Award Entire House $500k+

The Professional Remodeling Organization (PRO) New England annual awards are given in June. Projects are judged on a 70 point scale with points awarded for craftsmanship; how well the project met the client’s needs and enhanced the functionality and aesthetics of the space; innovative use of materials and methods; ability to overcome obstacles creatively. HCBG won Gold for an exterior/interior reno of an Andover split level.

2020 Best of Northshore (BONS) Home, Editors Choice Builder/Renovation

Dedicated to all things hearth and home, Northshore Magazine annually selects the best of all things home. Editors Choice winners are selected in consultation with design experts. In 2020, for the fifth year in a row, Howell Custom Building Group was recognized as the Editor’s choice for Builder of Renovations.

2019 Best of Northshore (BONS) Home, Editors Choice Builder/Renovation

Dedicated to all things hearth and home, Northshore Magazine annually selects the best of all things home. Editors Choice winners are selected in consultation with design experts. In 2019, for the fourth year in a row, Howell Custom Building Group was recognized as the Editor’s choice for Builder of Renovations.

2019 PRISM Gold Award for Best Passive Home/Sustainable Home Design

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won a 2019 Gold award for Best Passive Home/Sustainable Home Design, for an energy efficient, high performance home in Boxford, MA.

2019 PRISM Gold Award for Best Remodeling

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won a 2019 Gold award for Best Remodeling/Restoration, for a 1950’s Andover multi-level Exterior/Interior renovation.

2019 PRISM Gold Award for Best Kitchen Remodel

2018 PRISM Gold Awards: Best Single Family Home, Best Outdoor Living, Best Kitchen

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won three 2018 Gold awards: Best Single Family Home over 8,000 square feet, Best Outdoor Living, and Best Kitchen — all for a custom shingle style home.

2018 Best of Northshore (BONS) Home, Editors Choice Builder/Custom Homes & Builder/Renovation

Dedicated to all things hearth and home, Northshore Magazine annually selects the best of all things home. Editors Choice winners are selected in consultation with design experts. In 2018, for the third year in a row, Howell Custom Building Group was recognized as the Editor’s choice for both Builder of Custom Homes and Builder of Renovations.

2018 Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston Home®, High End Remodeling, North

Each year Boston magazine’s editorial team spends countless hours researching the very best of what Boston has to offer so they can share it with their readers. They spent three months polling homeowners and industry experts to find 75 of the very best design professionals and resources this area has to offer. HCBG was recognized for their work remodeling homes north of Boston.

2017 Best of Northshore (BONS) Home, Editors Choice Builder/Custom Homes & Builder/Renovation

Dedicated to all things hearth and home, Northshore Magazine annually selects the best of all things home. Editors Choice winners are selected in consultation with design experts. In 2017, Howell Custom Building Group was recognized as the Editor’s choice for both Builder of Custom Homes and Builder of Renovations.

2017 PRISM Gold Award for Best Remodeling/Restoration

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won two 2017 Gold awards: Best Remodel over 5,000 square feet, for an expansive whole house renovation, and Best Small Remodel , for an elegantly understated first floor renovation.

2017 PRISM Silver Awards for Best Kitchen and Bath Remodel

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won two 2017 Silver awards: Best Kitchen Remodel, for a Transitional kitchen, and Best Bath Remodel, for the Relaxing Retreat Master Bath.

2017 Designer Bath Shine Award, Spa Bath

Shine awards are given annually by Designer Bath of Salem, MA in recognition of the most creative bathrooms and kitchens featuring their products. In 2017, HCBG received the award for Best Spa Bath for the renovation of an Andover, MA townhouse master bath. The space was transformed into a sleek, contemporary respite with clean, spare lines and innovative materials.

2017 Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston Home®, Best Sustainable Contractor, North

Each year Boston magazine’s editorial team spends countless hours researching the very best of what Boston has to offer so they can share it with their readers. They spent three months polling homeowners and industry experts to find 137 of the most discerning designers, craftspeople, and retailers, organized by specialty and region. The Winter 2017 Best of Boston Home awards mark the 10th anniversary of the magazine and the awards. Read More

2016 Best of Northshore (BONS) Home, Editor’s & Reader’s Choice winner

Dedicated to all things hearth and home, Northshore Magazine annually highlights both the editor’s choice and reader’s choice for best builder. In 2016, Howell Custom Building Group was recognized as the Editor’s choice for Builder of Custom Homes, and the Reader’s Choice for Builder of Renovations.

2016 PRISM Gold Award for Best Remodeling/Restoration

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won for the first floor remodel of an Andover, MA colonial into a more expansive, open layout to comfortably accommodate a bustling family of five and their guests. View the winning project.

2016 PRISM Silver Award for Best Kitchen Remodel

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won for the fabulously functional transformation of an Andover, MA kitchen. View the winning project.

2016 Best of Houzz-Customer Satisfaction

Houzz is the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design. “Anyone building, remodeling or decorating looks to Houzz for the most talented, competent and service-oriented professionals,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. The Best Of Houzz Service award is determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2015.

2015 PRISM Silver Award for Best Historical Renovation

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the local home building industry. HCBG won for their renovation of The Hannah Fay House, built in 1860, and located next to Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, where it served as a former home to the school’s administrators. View the winning project.

2015 Designer Bath Shine Award, Best Bath Nook

Shine awards are given annually by Designer Bath of Salem, MA in recognition of the most creative bathrooms and kitchens featuring their products. In 2015, HCBG received the award for Best Bath Nook, for construction of a master suite that features a barrel ceiling in natural cedar, framing an oversized Palladian window.

2015 Best of Houzz-Customer Satisfaction

Houzz is the leading online platform for residential remodeling. The Best Of Houzz Service award is determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2014.

2014 Celebration of Excellence – Corporate Philanthropy Award, Enterprise Bank

Enterprise Bank’s Celebration of Excellence celebrates the remarkable businesses and community leaders who have achieved success, while inspiring others to excel. The Corporate Philanthropy Award honors and celebrates a local for-profit business that has harnessed the power of their assets, resources, and visibility to make a significant positive impact on their community. Over nine months in 2012 and again in 2014, HCBG donated over 1,000 hours in leadership, project management expertise, and construction labor for two Habitat for Humanity Home Builders Blitz projects. Watch the time-lapse Video.

2014 PRISM Gold Award for Best Remodeling/Restoration

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the accomplishments of professionals who influence the present and shape the future of building and design. Howell Custom Building Group won for their remodel of a vacation home on the coast of Maine. View the winning project.

2014 PRISM Gold Award for Community Spirit

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the accomplishments of professionals who influence the present and shape the future of building and design. HCBG won for their leadership of the 2014 Home Builders Blitz for Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity, when local builders joined forces to construct a duplex in just five days. Watch the time-lapse video.

2014 PRISM Silver Award for Best Remodeling/Restoration

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the accomplishments of professionals who influence the present and shape the future of building and design. Howell Custom Building Group won for their exterior renovation of an oceanfront home in Gloucester, MA. View the winning project.

2014 PRISM Silver Award for Best Bathroom Remodel

The PRISM Awards are bestowed annually by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. They recognize the accomplishments of professionals who influence the present and shape the future of building and design. Howell Custom Building Group won for transforming a Boxford, MA master suite into a tranquil retreat. View the winning project.

2014 Reader’s Choice Winner for Home Renovation, Merrimack Valley Magazine

Merrimack Valley Magazine readers voted Howell Custom Building Group their first choice when choosing a company to remodel their home. Readers mentioned our detailed planning process and extensive client communications in addition to years of experience and positive testimonials as their reasons for nominating us.

2014 Best of Houzz-Customer Satisfaction & Design

Houzz is the leading online platform for residential remodeling. The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. HCBG was recognized in both categories. Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2013. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 16 million monthly users.

2013 PRISM Silver Award for Best Single Family Home 2500-5000 square feet

The PRISM Awards are bestowed every two years by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston recognizing the best in the building and design industry. Howell Custom Building Group won for a 3300 square foot, light and airy, custom contemporary built to follow the contours of the land. View the winning project.

2013 PRISM Silver Award for Best Kitchen Remodel

The PRISM Awards are bestowed every two years by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston recognizing the best in the building and design industry. Howell Custom Building Group won for a renovation that created a more intimate and functional kitchen by adding architectural details, ambiance, storage, and a mudroom area. View the winning project.

2013 “Best of Houzz” Winner

Howell Custom Building Group, (“HCBG”), has been awarded a 2013 “Best Of Houzz” distinction by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design. You can view our entire Houzz profile here.

2012 “Best Business” First Place Winner, Boston Magazine

Boston magazine named Howell Custom Building Group the first place winner of its “Boston’s Best Businesses” program, an award program designed to highlight innovative small businesses, leaders and organizations making an overwhelmingly positive impact on the Greater Boston community. Judges cited the company’s work with Habitat for Humanity and their customer service policies as the primary reasons for selecting them as the first place winner. Learn more here.

Trends Top 50 American Bathroom

A recent project was recognized as a “Trends Top 50 American Bathroom”. You can see this project here and you can also see the other TOP 50 Bathrooms in the full gallery

Trends Top 50 American Home

A recent project was recognized as a “Trends Top 50 American Home”. You can see this project here and you can also see the other TOP 50 Homes in the full gallery

2011 PRISM Gold Award for Best Remodeling/Restoration

The PRISM Awards are bestowed every two years recognizing the best in the building and design industry in the Greater Boston area. Howell Custom Building Group won for an 800 square foot beachfront cottage in Rockport, MA that they transformed into a light and airy retreat, taking advantage of ocean views. View the winning project.

2009 PRISM Gold Award for Best Single Family over 6,000 Square feet

The PRISM Awards are bestowed every two years recognizing the best of the best in building, design and marketing programs throughout BAGB’s membership. More than 260 entries were received this year. Howell Custom Building Group won for a custom built Lake Front Lodge vacation home in Maine, featuring timber-frame details and extensive stonework. View the winning project.

2008 COTY Silver for Best Residential Exterior

The annual COTY awards recognize the best achievements in remodeling projects by members over the past year. Howell Custom Building Group won Silver in the “Residential Exterior” category for a spectacular sunset deck they built onto an oceanfront cottage, formerly a bed-and-breakfast, in Rockport, MA. View the winning project.

2006 Luxury Living Silver Award for Most Beautiful Master Suite

The Luxury Living Awards are a juried home design competition that celebrates New England’s most beautiful living spaces and the talented design professionals who create them. Over 6,000 New England designers, architects, remodelers, landscapers, and other professionals were invited to enter. The jury consists of leading home design professionals as well as homeowners, media personalities, and more. View the winning project.

apl28

We have worked with many contractors on home renovation projects over the years, and would put Howell at the top of our list for their attention to detail, proactive communication, excellent pre-project planning process (thank you Garrett) and execution of high quality work at a reasonable price. Howell finished our 1200+ sq foot basement including a wine cellar, a full guest suite, and an outdoor shower - and got it done several weeks ahead of schedule and right on budget. Their sub contractors worked efficiently - and even went above and beyond when we had an unrelated HVAC issue come up during the project. We have already recommended Howell to friends and look forward to working with their team again in the future.
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Tim Collins

I was very pleased with the performance of Howell Custom Building in all areas of the project; initial cost estimation, project management, and the quality of the work. They renovated 2 barns and built two new barns; one of which was a very project which included restoring a 1793 timber frame. They dealt with my numerous requests for small 'unique add-on work' professionally and pleasantly.
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baileylab01

If you are looking to remodel your kitchen or bathroom and want quality and reliability call Howell Custom Building Group. We recently remodeled our Boxford kitchen and MasterBath and the results are stunning! From pulling the permit to the help of a knowledgeable project manager to keep things on track the Howell team is the best! Their carpenters, electricians, plumbers and painters are all top notch. They stand by their work.
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Patricia O'Brien

My experience with Howell has been unique in that we started the process right before Covid and entered into the construction faze during the height of Covid. Steve and Susan Howell and all their associates Steve, Leana, Josh, Dave etc have conducted themselves in a most professional, thoughtful and careful manner. Always putting the safety of my family first.
The renovation turned out beautifully. We completely renovated the majority of the second floor with a lot of smaller jobs that needed to be done else where on the property. The same care and attention to detail was given to the smallest of tasks as were the largest! Very impressive indeed. There were also very few surprises on this job. Between the careful planning, design and then scheduling culminating in the completion of tasks we always knew exactly what was going to happen, how much it was going to cost and when it was happening. Usually with a reno this size you might move out for a few months, but we stayed put since Covid was such an unknown and although very challenging with people working and schooling from home the team at Howell made every effort to be quiet when possible and super clean!
I highly recommend Howell Custom Building Group!
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Anne Wakeman

We recently completed a major renovation project with Howell Custom Building Group and couldn't be happier. We tried to kick off the project 3 years ago but due to family situations and then Covid struck we had to keep rearranging things. Howell could not have been more patient and flexible with us. Once we finally got to kick things off we were surrounded by such amazing and talented people. Steve our architect is so good at what he does and so easy work with. When we then moved into the actual construction period the team at Howell made sure we were set up comfortably as we would be living in the house while our family room, kitchen, laundry and mud room were torn apart. Every day we felt comfortable and and were able to maintain our privacy. Brad our lead carpenter was so easy to be around and was meticulous at keeping the job site clean. Everyone that came to work on the house were professional and kind and knew exactly what they were there to do. While timelines always get moved around due to materials or changes to the original plans (always due to us making tweaks!) communication was always handled in a very timely manner. We now have the home we dreamed of and feel so grateful that we decided to work with Howell.
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HU-342448369

HCBG did an exceptional job renovating our home. Stellar customer service! Superb craftsmanship! The entire HCBG team was professional, courteous and treated our home like it was their own. The project manager, lead carpenter, and all of the subcontractors were knowledgeable and took pride in their work. We have already recommended HCBG to several of our friends! We absolutely love our newly renovated home.
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HU-390485

We have done many projects at two houses over more than a decade with Howell Custom Building Group and cannot recommend them highly enough. Projects include a new front entrance, a complete kitchen gut remodel, the gut and remodel of a cramped attic into an amazing home office and gym plus several smaller projects. The process is always clear and concise, the work impeccable and the people - both HGB employees and subcontractors - top notch!
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arnoldry

We worked with Howell Custom Building Group in the extensive renovation and update of our Royal Barry Wills inspired home over a 2.5 year period. The team at Howell was highly recommended, yet still exceeded our expectations in all phases of redesign and renovation. Starting with thoughtfut consultation throughout the design process leading into the detailed work by the contractors, the team at Howell was consistently professional, highly skilled and visionary in the re-immagination of our home. Our design team of Ben, Rick (Benjamin Nutter Architects) and Steve P, and Steve H worked closely with us to design a home that our family could enjoy for years to come. The project team, led by Bill and Blaire, was always enjoyable and easy to work with throughout the process. The highly skilled expertise of Emile, George, Brian, Tim and Steve D, brought the design to reality with quality craftmanship that thoroughly impresses everyone that has seen our home. We are so thankful to have worked with such a great team, full of amazing people that truly care. Thank you Steve, Susan and all of the team at Howell Custom Building Group for helping make our dream home a reality.
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Bob Gore

For virtually all of 2019 we worked with the Howell group on an extensive renovation to our 1830 farmhouse. We knocked down an entire wing of the house and rebuilt it. We also took the opportunity to modernize the heating and AC systems and a number of other related projects. We lived in the house while all this was going on!

This was a big project complicated by the age of the house and other factors. We are pleased to report that the project was done precisely on schedule and under budget!

For a project of this scope you quickly realize that you are living with the contractor and his various teams. The Howell team could not have been better in terms of just being pleasant to be around , Doing work of the highest quality in a very efficient manner. Of course, issues come up that were unanticipated and the Howell team does a great job of keeping everything on track and communicating in a clear and proactive manner.

We could not be happier with the results. Our home is much more attractive and comfortable.. we can use rooms now that were freezing before.

We highly recommend the Howell team. They have a tremendous depth of resources and they deliver on all their promises. We received many wonderful complements about our house and the project.
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Marla Glanzer Curtis,AIA

As an architect I have worked with many building contractors and Howell Custom Building Group
is among the best. I hired them to do the work on my own personal residence. They built a new deck and had several major structural issues that they addressed. They were detail oriented, kept me updated on their progress and presented alternative materials or methods which was really helpful. I appreciated the whole format that they used;weekly meetings, scheduled invoices. Everyone that worked on the project was professional and extraordinarily helpful.
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Sumi Dolben

Howell was a pleasure to work with. From the design process to the continued support after the end of the project has been nothing short of perfect. They have developed relationships with subcontractors that are reliable and professional and some that even go beyond expectation. Once my walls were opened up they saw and cleaned up pipes and wires that were not in use and the painters returned twice to repaint a color I didn't like. The crew are highly qualified and experienced and a pleasure to work with. I would not work with anyone else now.
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Beth Smithson

From start to finish, the entire team of HCBG and all their selected subs were second to none: truly excellent. The project was budgeted accurately, the team highly professional and expert in their respective crafts. They really cared about the outcome of the project and it showed. We lived in the house during a massive kitchen renovation, and they took the utmost care to ensure our lives were disrupted as little as they possibly could be. The super on our project was at our house daily for 6 mos, and that isn't enjoyable with just anyone. We would highly recommend this firm to anyone looking for expert craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a superb process.
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Yana Barton

Craftsmanship, originality, creativity and professionalism all in one!
We hired Steve Howell and team to help us redesign the most important room in the house, our kitchen. The end result has transformed our home of more than 10 years. Every person we interacted with, from project developer, project manager, designers to carpenters, were committed to one and only thing, seeing our vision come to life. Incredible craftsmanship was complemented by business savviness and genuine pride in their craft! Couldn't be happier.
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Steven and Jessica Garten

Howell is an exceptional business to work with. They are completely competent in their planning and process. They met every deadline and communicated with us constantly to keep the project on-time. Every person on the job was professional and an expert in their trade. Our renovation is perfect and we hope to use Howell in the future!
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bluelakehouse

The design and execution of my complex kitchen rehab was excellent. The staff and subcontractors were highly skilled and very professional.

I am a little reluctant to post a “rave review” for fear that Howell will get too busy to return to my house for future work. But there is no denying that They earned every one of the five stars I gave them.
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Steven A

Project was beautifully managed from end to end. Design phase was thoughtful and construction went without a hitch. Work was meticulous and on time. Communication was excellent throughout the project. Highly recommended!!!
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Xiaoying Zhong

We remodeled 3.5 bathroom using Howell Custom Building Group and it was a very pleasant experience. What I liked most about Howell was

- Attention to detail. This is reflected in both how they approached the design and the day-to-day construction. Nothing is too much trouble for them as long as it is the right decision from a functional and aesthetic perspective

- Project Management. Our project was more than six months, but we never felt any inconvenience. The crew were friendly, professional and very careful in protecting the property. More importantly, this is not a crew that just rigidly follow the schematics. sometimes something that looks great on paper may not be the best idea in practice and the crew will always give suggestions on workarounds / better ways to address.

- Communications. We were always kept abreast of the latest progress / next steps. So even though the whole project was longer than we expected, we just never had that anxiety. Also, they never "disappear". Text or email, we always had full and very timely access to the project manager.

I am so glad we found Howell and look forward to working on more projects with them in the future
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B K

Lead carpenter and assistant carpenter were exceptional. Can't beat the attention to detail and professionalism of this group. They remodeled/created a mudroom, kitchen, and 2 baths for us.
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pejenkins

My husband and I first met with Howell Custom Building Group based on several personal recommendations we received from people in our area. They have a reputation for high quality work, completed on time and in a very professional manner. We wanted to do a pretty extensive renovation of most of the first floor of our home. After meeting with them, we were impressed with their great design ideas and decided to move forward with them after exploring several project scopes, complete with budgets (a large portion of which was fixed). We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome- Howell delivered on everything they promised, with great quality work and delivering on time. There were many details where they could have skimped but didn't- can't recommend them highly enough and won't hesitate to work with them on our next project.
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marysu

ZAThere are multiple reasons which make Howell Custom Building Group the first-class operation that they are, but after contracting them to design and build our 3-season porch with 4-season connector to the house, the word which best describes our experience of this project is "painless". With meticulous attention, Steve and his associates guided us through the complicated process of isolating our design needs and articulating our desires into a clear project. From the outset, Steve's friendly, down-to-earth manner put us at ease, removing any note of intimidation. From there, our project manager, John, facilitated every aspect of the building process. Our weekly meetings with John were an invaluable feature in keeping us informed and anxiety-free.
The carpenters assigned to our project with whom we "lived" from day to day were just plain delightful people. Their commitment to the project was personal and we couldn't have hoped for a more professional, respectful, or conscientious group of workers! The subcontractors were equally first-rate which further convinced us of the Howell's absolute commitment to quality and perfection.
The project remained on schedule throughout and the result is a gorgeous custom living space which we couldn't have conceived of without the careful expertise provided by HCBG.
Since its completion, visitors to our new space have echoed 2 sentiments repeatedly -- that the addition looks so natural to the house, "like it's always been there" and secondly, that when we told them that we added a 3-season porch, that they never could have imagined the kind of detailed artistry that they encountered upon actually viewing it. The results of this project far exceeded our expectations and therefore, we can recommend Howell Custom Building Group unreservedly and enthusiastically!
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Amy Finegold

We are just in the process of finishing our first floor remodel, including a total kitchen re-do and addition, and I have never been more impressed with a company. The professionalism, attention to detail, organization, general skill and talent of Steve Howell and his team have blown me away. We never lost our sink, stove or dishwasher during the entire process due to the engineering of our project manager Brian Hollenbeck. And the finished result is exactly what I was hoping for. I cannot say enough about Howell and only wish I had hired them earlier for previous projects.
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Liz Fortino

We wanted to reclaim some unused attic space to expand our master bathroom and closet. Steve Howell and his designer helped us figure out what size dormer made sense to accomplish our goals within our budget. Once we settled on a design, there was a lot of thought put into how to build it with as little disruption to the rest of the house as possible. As part of the project we also replaced the carpet in our entire upstairs with wood floor, so it has been like having a whole new house. We were very impressed with the care taken at every phase of the project and we love our new upstairs!
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mavid123

Howell Custom Building Group is a very professional, competent, and flexible operation. Steve Howell is knowledgeable and skilled in assessing possibilities and project costs. He is willing to tailor the project to your lifestyle and inclinations and is open to collaboration.
The subcontractors were also professional and competent.
Additionally his business offers expertise to the local community and spearheads an annual Habitat for Humanity project.
One very positive project aspect is a weekly meeting with the project coordinator to keep communication and expectations in line with goals.
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mfates

We have lived in our home for 12 years and wanted to redo the entire basement. It was finished, but not with any real thought for a family of 6. HCBG did a superb job listening to our requirements and desires, scoping out the project in detail, sharing the designs with us, talking through options and costs, and then laying out a specific schedule for completion. The people involved in the planning and work were all very friendly and professional, and always happy to answer questions.

We are very pleased with the results. We now have a much more usable basement (which is the way we come into the house everyday through the garage) with some great woodwork and a beautiful built in Murphy bed in the new bedroom. The work is very high quality.

We are already thinking about future projects and will very likely work with HCBG again.
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gupfee

We did a major kitchen renovation/addition project with Howell and are super pleased and happy with the results. From design, budgeting, demolition, materials selection, excavation, framing, and subcontractors to finishing details, they were there for us with advice and support and a complete willingness to go over options. The quality of the build is just beautiful, and any minor hiccups along the way were addressed quickly and fixed to our satisfaction. We love our new kitchen, and are also enjoying our new mudroom, screen porch and refurbished family and dining rooms. They may be more expensive than other contractors, but they are worth every penny. We felt taken care of and respected every step of the way.
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karad11

We have just completed our second project with Howell Custom Building Group (master bed/bath renovation) and we are as thrilled with our results this time as were with our kitchen renovation 4 years ago. From beginning to end the Howells are detailed oriented and very professional. Every person who steps through the door is very respectful and makes life living through a renovation as easy as possible. I absolutely love the transformation of our new space and feel like we finally have the bedroom retreat we have always dreamed of. I would highly recommend Howell Custom Building Group.
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ziggyjoe

I am not a person who takes the time to write reviews. My experience with Howell Custom Building Group was everything I hoped it would be. My husband and I were completely satisfied with their work. I cannot recommend them highly enough. We needed the assistance of a building group that could offer ideas, options, & design work. We wanted help with a vision that came in conjunction with good, solid workmanship. This is exactly what we received. Howell Custom Building Group is the most professional contractor that we have ever hired. We had meetings discussing the designs and made changes accordingly throughout the process. Once it came time to start the construction, there was no doubting the quality of their work. The lead carpenter was so knowledgeable that I never felt I had to be present or stay on top of things. Their work was meticulously neat every day. The project manager was in constant contact with me and responded to any of my questions right away. I can honestly say that they treated our house as if they were working on their own. Their work ethic was undeniable. We experienced no disappointments and I would not only certainly recommend them but also hope to work with them again in the future.
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donhauser40

Howell provided complete design-build services for a major renovation/addition to our 1954 cape home. We started approximately 1 year prior to the project to complete early design concepts and order of magnitude pricing. This was critical as we were contemplating moving vs renovating/adding on. We loved the location, the lot, and the original home. All the houses we looked at needed significant work and Howell guided us through a custom analysis for our predicament that provided an unbiased solution that proved to be the right one. Once we decided to move forward, it was clear that between us and Howell we were confident that they could provide complete design-build turnkey services. We worked hard up front to
complete a very comprehensive design/spec package that once bid to the subcontractors, paid off in dividends. The scope was captured to a T, and the prices were very competitive. Howell kept us informed
through the whole process. We started construction in fall and had concerns of construction through the winter, as well as performing major surgery on our house during the winter while working around
2 year old twins. Two examples of how respectful and amazing the workforce at Howell was...the first was when I was away traveling on business and my wife's car had a dead battery, one of Howell's staff helped my wife get her car started, and without asking hooked up my battery charger over night to insure her battery was ready for the next day, the second example was when I was traveling we had a major storm, Howell had our driveway plowed so my wife could make the boys Dr appt. Our boys, fell in love with the guys and knew the workers by names, the workers worked around the boys nap time and checked in on them from time to time. The project was built identically to the renderings and design that were completed during early programming phase. The project was completed on schedule, the quality was great, and we now have a home we can live on for the next 25 years. We would highly, highly recommend Howell to anyone.
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dcegan

We hired Howell Custom Building to renovate some of the exterior elements of our beachfront home. Specifically we wanted to replace the weathered pressure treated decking with Ipe and replace the rotted pine railing columns with Azek. Howell provided us with good suggestions on how to design the replacement deck and then performed the work on schedule, on budget and with outstanding workmanship. The job was progressing so well that we expanded (doubled the scope) to include an additional deck that we wanted done in a composite and replacing the railings with a high end glass railing as well as replace some weathered aluminum coil stock trim. Howell was very accommodating of the increased scope and did it all on a very demanding schedule that we established. Replacing the existing aluminum trim was a huge challenge that they met with flying colors. The entire project lasted about 6 weeks and the final product exceeded our already high expectations. We can't wait to dream up another project so that we can hire them again!
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Don and Mike

We hired Howell Custom Building to renovate some of the exterior elements of our beachfront home. Specifically we wanted to replace the weathered pressure treated decking with Ipe and replace the rotted pine railing columns with Azek. Howell provided us with good suggestions on how to design the replacement deck and then performed the work on schedule, on budget and with outstanding workmanship. The job was progressing so well that we expanded (doubled the scope) to include an additional deck that we wanted done in a composite and replacing the railings with a high end glass railing as well as replace some weathered aluminum coil stock trim. Howell was very accommodating of the increased scope and did it all on a very demanding schedule that we established. Replacing the existing aluminum trim was a huge challenge that they met with flying colors. The entire project lasted about 6 weeks and the final product exceeded our already high expectations. We can't wait to dream up another project so that we can hire them again!
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